One of the most popular SUVs on the road for years has been the Mitsubishi Outlander. This great compact SUV has a lot to offer for a family on a budget including the 10 year/100,000 mile warranty and a 3,500 pound towing capacity. Not to mention this SUV starts under $24,000 which is actually less than it was for 2015 even with more features and equipment than was includes for the previous model year. All this makes the Outlander an SUV that is well worth a look and consideration especially when you need to a new compact SUV to enjoy.
Starting off with what’s new from Mitsubishi can give us a look at where the Outlander is going. This SUV benefits from a new style, a quieter ride, a more refined interior, an updated navigation system, a revised four-cylinder engine and a new continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The Outlander also features a new function on the second row to make it easier to flip and fold as well as standard aluminum-alloy wheels to give the SUV an upgraded appearance on the outside to go along with the rest of the cool new features.
On the inside the Outlander offers seven seats and a well-laid out cabin full of enjoyable materials and great equipment to ensure the ride is comfortable and engaging. The new dark bamboo-like accents give the vehicle a look of premium or near luxury appointments. The interior is also cleaner with fewer buttons and dials in the control panel and is much quieter than ever before. The 1-2-3 flip and fold system for the second row gives easy access to the small third row when needed. When you need some cargo space the Outlander gives it to you with over 63 cubic feet of space when both rows of seats are folded down.
Some of the favorite features of the Outlander include the CVT8 transmission and the advanced safety features. Unlike most CVTs this one is easy to enjoy and really makes this SUV as efficient as possible by getting all the power it can from the engine. The advanced safety features aboard are usually reserved for luxury brands, but you can have them on the Outlander, making it easier to keep your family safe when on the road.
Since we are talking features, let’s see what comes on the Outlander. This SUV carries n four trim levels, the ES, SE, SEL and GT. The base ES model offers you the automatic climate control, keyless entry, a 140-watt audio system, Bluetooth connectivity and 18-inch alloy wheels. The SE adds a rearview camera, fog lights, side mirrors with signal indicators, dual climate control and push button starting. The next model, the SEL increases the equipment to offer a roof rail, leather seats and a power driver’s seat. At the top of the lineup, the FT adds all-wheel drive and a V6 engine along with a power remote tailgate, a nine-speaker audio system, automatic on/off headlights, power folding mirrors, rain-sensing wipers and paddle shifters for the enjoyment of manual shifting. All models come with the 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty.
Once you select the trim level you will drive then you may want to try adding some additional features. It appears the GT may have almost everything possible already, but there are some additional options to add which include the forward collision mitigation system, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, a navigation system, rain-sensing wipers, windshield wiper de-icer, power folding side mirrors, auto on/off headlights, a power tailgate and a power sunroof. Of course some of these features are already on the GT, but you can have the SEL or SE with the four-cylinder engine with some of the amazing upgrades.
Now that we have mentioned the engines, let’s see what we have with the Outlander. The base engine which is on the ES, SE and SEL is the 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine attached to the CVT8. With this powertrain the towing capacity is only 1,500 pounds, but still more than most SUVs in this class. This engine offers you 166 horsepower and 162 lb.-ft. of torque. the front-wheel drive versions have a fuel mileage of 25 city/31 hwy mpg and the all-wheel drive models offer you 24 city/29 hwy mpg.
The engine for the GT model is not the only part of this vehicle that is higher grade. The transmission used is a six-speed automatic and the towing capacity is the 3,500 pounds mentioned earlier. This model is powered by a 3.0-liter V6 engine that brings in 224 horsepower and 215 lb.-ft. of torque and enjoys a fuel mileage of 20 city/27 hwy mpg. The only drawback to this powertrain is the need to operate it with the use of premium fuel.
With everything aboard, the pricing of the Outlander begins at the ES with a price just under $24,000. Moving up to the SE will ask a $25,000 price while the SEL will begin at $26,000. The GT with the V6 is the first trim over $30,000 with a price that begins at $32,000. Add in the optional features to the GT and you may find yourself paying $35,000 but you won’t be sorry, that is a lot of SUV for the price considering there are many SUVs that begin the base pricing much higher than the top line of the GT model Outlander.
When you see the new Outlander compared to an older model you can see distinct differences. The aggressive front and rear have improved the look to give us a more modern appearance. The electric windshield wiper de-icer is great if you live in colder climates and certainly helps to keep the ice and snow from building up. The power folding mirrors are also a great feature when taking the Outlander to the car wash. Overall, the new Mitsubishi Outlander is a fantastic choice and gives you a vehicle that is built to be a bargain and make it easy for everyone to enjoy the ride.
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